Auger ice making apparatus



Nov. 8, 1966 M. L. NELSON 3,283,529

AUGER ICE MAKING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 23, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 :F I 1 INVENTOR.

Nov. 8, 1966 M. 1.. NELSON 3,283,529

AUGER ICE MAKING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 23, 1963 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 8, 1966 M. L. NELS-ON 3,283,529

AUGER ICE MAKING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 23, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 d? M I; id 1 4 g. t: 4 INVENTOR. Mara/s A. We 75071 /aj IE? BY United States Patent 3,283,529 AUGER ICE MAKING APPARATUS Marcus L. Nelson, Albert Lea, Minn., assignor to King- Seeley Thermos Co., Ann Arbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 303,994, Aug. 23, 1963. Divided and this application Feb. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 533,115

21 Claims. (Cl. 62-320) This application is a continuation of my prior application Serial No. 303,994, filed August 23, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to ice making apparatus and more particularly to an ice compaction, breaker, and delivery assembly therefore. This invention, is, in certain respects, an improvement on ice breaking apparatus of the type shown in US. Patent 2,753,694 issued to F. A. Trow, July 10, 1956, and US. Patent 2,825,209 issued to I. L. Nelson et al., March 4, 1958.

In general, this invention is concerned with apparatus for receiving ice continuously formed in an ice-forming chamber in relatively thin layers having considerable water content. The apparatus is adapted to receive and compact the relatively thin wet layers of ice causing removal of water and formation of a relatively large mass of dry ice. The apparatus is further adapted to deliver the compacted dry ice in the form of ice chips. Accordingly, the apparatus serves three primary functions including those of compacting the ice to produce relatively large solid pieces of ice, squeezing the ice to remove water therefrom and produce relatively dry ice, and breaking the compacted and dehydrated ice into ice chips or fragments of a convenient and desired size upon delivery from the ice making apparatus.

In the present invention, a compacting chamber is provided to receive the ice and has a discharge opening connected therewith which throttles the ice as it leaves the compacting chamber. The compacting chamber takes the general form of a tubular space. A curvilinear abutment wall is provided at the end of the tubular space and is radiused outward to expedite the discharge of compacted ice from the compacting chamber to the discharge opening.

An ice removing means is provided to direct ice from the compacting chamber to the discharge opening. The ice removing means takes the form of a blade or cutter having a portion located closely adjacent the curvilinear abutment wall and having a peripheral configuration substantially corresponding to the contour of the curvilinear abutment wall. A relatively sharp, somewhat knife-like, edge is provided. at the end of the blade so that compacted ice in the compacting chamber is cut or peeled off of the inner walls of the compacting chamber and forcibly directed outwardly through the discharge opening. The discharge opening may be suitably reduced in size by the lade to cause additional compression of the ice being discharged and the amount of compression of the ice is controllable by making the blade adjustable within the discharge opening. In the preferred embodiment suitable shim means or spacers are provided to enable the position of the blade within the discharge opening to be variously adjusted.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that rib means may be provided on the blade to provide a plurality of ice discharge paths so that the compacted ice being delivered from the compacting chamber may be formed into a plu rality of pieces of predetermined cross-sectional configurations and dimensions.

The invention is hereinafter described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

ice

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away, of an illustrative embodiment of the inventive principles;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational View with parts broken away, of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIGURE 4; and

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevational view taken in the direction of arrow 6 in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown to comprise, in general, an ice forming means 10 defined by a tubular housing member 12 having auger means 14 rotatably mounted therein by spaced. bearing units 16, 18 mounted in end plates 20, 22. A central cylindrical portion 24 of the auger means defines ice forming chamber 25 in conjunction with the tubular member 12. Spiral blade means 26 extend outwardly into the ice forming chamber and terminate adjacent the inner surface of the tubular member 12 as shown at 28. A refrigeration unit 30 is mounted about the ice forming chamber. A suitable supply of water is maintained in the ice forming chamber by an inlet passage 32 at a level indicated approximately at 34. Thin layers of ice are continuously formed on the inner surface of the tubular member 12 and are radially .and axially displaced by the auger means toward. the upper end of the ice forming chamber.

This invention is particularly directed to the provision of means to compact, form, and deliver solid dry ice fragments from the ice forming device. To this end, a rotatable ice compacting means 40 is fixedly secured to the auger means 14 for rotation therewith by suitable fastenings devices 42, 44. A radially inwardly extending fastening flange portion 46 abuts the end. surface 48 of the auger means. A generally cylindrical wall portion 50 extends away from the auger means generally parallelly to the axial path of the movement of ice removed from the ice forming chamber. The lowermost portion 52 of the generally cllindrical wall is substantially aligned with and forms a continuation of the outer periphery of the main body portion 24 of the auger means. Upper end 54 of the wall 50 is curved outwardly to form a curvilinear abutment wall which terminates closely adjacent the inner surface of the tubular member 12 as indicated at 56. Thus an ice compacting chamber 53 is defined by the wall portion 50 and the tubular member 12. The inner wall of chamber 50, in the preferred embodiment, tapers upwardly and the chamber is gradually reduced in cross-sectional width. In other words, the distance between the inner surface of the tubular member 12 and the outer surface of wall 50 adjacent the end 28 of the auger means is greater than the distance therebetween adjacent the curvilinear portion 54.

In order to remove ice displaced into the compacting chamber 58, a discharge opening 60 is provided in the tubular member 12 in aligment with the compacting chamber. Ice discharge means are provided by a spout 62 which forms an ice delivery chute. The spout 62 comprises a housing portion 64 having, in the preferred embodiment, a rectangular discharge passage 66. One end of the spout is abuttingly supported on the outer periphery of the tubular member 12 as shown at 68, 70 in FIGURE 2. Suitable sealing means 72, 74 may be provided. An attaching flange 76 comprising four fastener supporting portions 78, 80, 82, 84, FIG. 3, extend transversely to the ice discharge passage 66 and are adapted to receive suitable fastening elements 86, 88, 90, 92 which may be threadably received in attaching bosses 94, 96 provided on the outer periphery of the tubular member 12 around the discharge opening 60. The end of the spout is preferably provided with a downwardly inclined lip portion 98 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Ice is removed from the compacting chamber 58 by ice removing means in the form of an ice removing blade 102 mounted in the discharge passage 66 with an inner portion 104 extending into the compacting chamber 58 through opening 60. The innermost surfaces of the ice removing blade intersect and terminate in a somewhat knife-like edge 106, as shown in FIGURE 2, located closely adjacent the outer surface 108 of the wall portion 50. Referring to FIGURE 1, the knife-like edge 106 is contoured to substantially match the contour of the inner surface of the ice compacting chamber 58, defined by the Wall portion 50, and includes a relatively straight portion 110, which may have a slight taper to correspond to the taper of the corresponding section of the wall portion 50, and a curved portion 112, which corresponds to the curved portion 54 of the Wall 50.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the knife-like edge 106 is defined by intersecting surfaces 114, 116, which slope outwardly away from the surface 108 across the ice compacting chamber 58 in the general direction of movement of the rotating ice compressor 40 as indicated by the arrow 118. Accordingly, the surface 116 provides a guide and compacting surface for the ice in the ice compacting chamber 58 and deflects ice outwardly through the discharge opening 60 into the discharge passage 66. Surface 114 intersects an abutment surface 120 which extends substantially parallel to the adjacent wall 122 of the housing 64 and is adapted to be secured in abutting relationship therewith by suitable fastening devices 124, 126. Surface 116 intersects a surface 128 on the blade which extends substantially parallel to the surface 120 and deflects and forces the ice outwardly through the discharge passage 66. The size of the ice particles discharged through the opening 66 from the compacting chamber 58 may be controlled by the provision of rib means 130 extending generally parallelly to the path of movement through the discharge opening 66, and centrally located on the ice removing blade to divide the passage 66 into upper and lower segments 132, 134 as seen in FIGURE 1. Thus, the ice being discharged through the opening 60 and the discharge passage 66 will tend to be divided into two fragments. The other dimension of the ice particles being discharged is determined primarily by the width of the compacting chamber 58. The ice in the compacting chamber 58 is subject to both axial and radial movement and compression. The ice removing blade also serves to further compact the ice as it is delivered from the compacting chamber.

It is to be noted that the ice removing blade is removably mounted and may therefore be readily changed or adjusted to permit variance in the size and condition of the ice particles being discharged as necessary or desirable. In order to vary'the condition or the side of the ice particles by the use of a single adjustable ice removing blade, shim means 136, 138, FIG. 2, may be utilized to vary the location of the ice removing blade in the discharge cavity.

Referring now to FIGURES 46, an alternative embodiment of the inventive principles is illustrated in connection with an ice making device of somewhat similar design comprising a cylindrical member 212, auger means 214, an ice forming chamber 225 and coolingmeans 230. Auger means 214 is rotably supported by bearing means 216 mounted in a bushing member 220. The ice compacting chamber 258 is defined by an integral extension 240 of the auger means. The end 254 of the auger means is outwardly curved and terminates at 256 closely adjacent the inner surface of the ice compacting chamber wall. Spout means 262 are mounted on the cylindrical member 212 and include a housing portion 264 providing a discharge passage 266 communicating with a discharge opening 260 in the wall of the ice compacting chamber. Suitable sealing means 272, 274 may be provided. Housing 262 is secured in place by a yoke 271, as shown in FIG- URE 5, which includes a curved surface 273 adapted to abuttingly engage the side of the cylindrical member 212 opposite the housing 262. Fastener means 275, 277 are provided to secure the assembly.

An ice removing blade 302 is integrally formed in the housing 262 and extends inwardly through the discharge opening 260 and terminates in a knife-like edge 306 located closely adjacent the periphery of the auger means 240. The blade-like surface 306 is defined by intersecting surfaces 314, 316 which extend from the knife-like edge 306 in the direction of rotation of the auger means as indicated by the arrow 318. The surface 314 terminates in a shoulder 319 and a radial surface 321 which are adapted to abut the cylindrical member 212 and locate the housing 262. Surface 316 extends outwardly and terminates in a guide passage surface 328. Throttling means in the form of an abutment 329 is provided opposite the blade means 302 and extends inwardly through the discharge opening 260. A curved portion 331 defines a portion of the compacting chamber and terminates in a transversely extending surface 333, which, in conjunction with the blade 302, defines a reduced passage for ice particles leaving the ice compacting chamber. The projection 329 is integrally formed in the housing 262 and is provided with a shoulder 335 and a curved portion 337 which abut the outer periphery of the cylindrical member 212 and precisely locate the discharge means on the ice making device.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 6, the inner surface of the ice removing blade comprises a straight portion 310 and a curved portion 312 which match the contour of the inner wall of the compacting chamber 258. As shown in FIGURE 4, the discharge passage 266 is defined by upwardly and outwardly sloped surfaces 341, 343, and downwardly sloping surfaces 345, 347.

In operation of the devices, water is maintained in the ice forming chamber 10 a level below the compacting chamber. Suitable cooling means are provided to continuously form a layer of ice on the inner surface of the cylindrical ice forming chamber. As the ice is formed, rotation of the auger means axially displaces the ice into the compacting chamber. The ice in the compacting chamber is axially and radially displaced and pressed into a relatively dry solid ice mass. As the ice is rotated in the compacting chamber, it is peeled off of the inner cylindrical surface of the compacting chamber and directed outwardly through the discharge means by the ice removing blade.

The ice removing blade extends inwardly into the compacting chamber and, having an inner peripheral contour matching the cylindrical surface, compacts the rotating ice as the ice is displaced outwardly. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the rib means provided divides the ice leaving the compacting chamber into a plurality of ice particles which are simultaneously dispensed through the spout or discharge housing 62. The placement of the cutter in the discharge opening is such as to reduce the exit area of the discharge opening and therefore causes greater compression of the ice cylinder formed in the compacting chamber resulting in harder and drier ice. The amount of compression of the ice cylinder, or hardness and dryness of the ice can be varied by the use of suitable spacers or other means which variably position the cutter in the opening. The curved configuration of the ice compacting chamber serves to throttle the ice as it is axially displaced resulting in maximum compression. Furthermore, in larger freezers having larger discharge openings, it may be desirable to break up the ice being displaced from the compacting chamber to obtain a plurality of ice particles. The rib means provided serve this function. On smaller freezing units having smaller discharge openings, it may not be necessary to divide the discharged ice into a plurality of particles and it may not be necessary to provide adjustability for the blade means. Therefore, the blade means may be made integral with the discharge spout as shown in FIGURES 4-5. Furthermore, the rigidity of the unit in position on the ice forming device can be increased by the arrangement shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 for holding the ice discharge means on the ice forming device. The space between the ice removing blade 3il2 and the opposite projecting abutment 329 can be designed as desired to obtain maximum results.

The inventive principles have been hereinbefore described by reference to a presently preferred embodiment for illustrative purposes. Since the invention is obviously not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement of the parts shown, and may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the appended claims, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the precise structural details shown except insofar as necessary to avoid the prior art.

The invention claimed is: Y

1. An ice making device comprising an ice forming chamber, rotatable auger means mounted in said ice forming chamber to deliver ice formed therein toward one end thereof, a discharge opening adjacent said one end of ice forming chamber providing a discharge path for ice extending substantially transversely to the axis of rotation of said auger means, an ice compacting chamber located adjacent said discharge opening, an end Wall member axially spaced from said auger means, the inner surface of said ice compacting chamber being formed by said end wall member and being outwardly curved to form a continuous curved shoulder extending circumferentially relative to the auger means and radially outwardly to said discharge opening to define the compacting chamber, and rigid blade means fixedly mounted rela tive to said ice forming chamber to engage ice in said compacting chamber and direct the ice outwardly through said discharge opening.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and said blade means being mounted in said discharge opening and extending into said ice compacting chamber, the inwardmost end of said blade means terminating adjacent said continuous curved shoulder and having a correspondingly curved configuration.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and said end wall member being fixed to and rotatable with said auger means.

4. An ice making device comprising an ice forming chamber, ice moving means to rotatably and axially displace ice formed in said ice forming chamber, ice compacting means for receiving and compacting ice in said ice forming chamber, ice discharge means for receiving compacted ice from said ice forming chamber, rigid blade means fixedly mounted relative to said ice forming chamber and extending into said ice forming chamber and into the rotative path of movement of ice displaced by said ice moving means, said blade means terminating in a surface extending substantially parallel to the axial path of movement, and said blade means having a surface extending outwardly through said ice discharge means and providing an ice deflecting surface extending generally transversely to the rotative path of movement.

5. An ice making device comprising an ice forming chamber, rotatable auger means mounted in said ice forming chamber and having spiral blade means located adjacent the inner surface of said ice forming chamber to remove ice formed therein by axial and rotative displacement, ice discharge means spaced axially beyond said spiral blade means for receiving ice from said ice forming chamber, the end of said auger means adjacent said ice discharge means having a surface extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotatable auger means being outwardly curved to form a continuous curved shoulder extending circumferentially around the auger means, rigid blade means fixed relative to said ice forming chamber and having means extending into said ice forming chamber into the rotative path of movement and the axial path of movement of ice displaced by said auger means, a portion of said blade means terminating adjacent said continuous curved shoulder and having a corresponding curvature, said portion of said blade means extending substantially parallel to the axial path of movement, and another portion of said blade means extending outwardly through said ice discharge means and providing an ice deflecting surface extending generally transversely to the rotative path of movement of ice displaced by said auger means to remove ice from said continuous curved shoulder and direct the ice outwardly through said ice discharge means.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 and wherein said blade means is removably attached to said ice discharge means.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 and including shim means to variably displace and position said blade means in said ice discharge means relative to said curved continuous shoulder.

8. The invention as defined in claim 5 and wherein rib means are formed on said blade means and extend transversely to said deflecting surface outwardly into said ice discharge means.

9. An ice making device comprising a tubular ice forming chamber having a central longitudinal axis, a portion of the side wall of said tubular ice forming chamber being removed to define an ice discharge opening extending transversely to said longitudinal axis, spaced abutment means provided on the outer surface of said ice making device on opposite sides of said ice discharge opening, ice discharge means removably mounted on the outer surface of said ice making device in alignment with said ice discharge opening and connected thereby to said tubular ice forming chamber, a first portion of said ice discharge means abutting one of said abutment means, another portion of said ice discharge means abutting another of said abutment means, rigid blade means attached to said ice discharge means and extending into said ice forming chamber through said ice discharge opening, said first portion and said other portion of said ice discharge means locating and holding said ice discharge means on said ice making device, and fastening means connected to said ice discharge means and fastening said ice discharge means on said ice making device.

10. An ice making device comprising an elongated tubular member defining an ice forming chamber having a central longitudinal axis, auger means mounted in said ice forming chamber to move ice therein by rotative and axial displacement toward one end of said ice forming chamber, an ice discharge opening formed in the elongated tubular member and extending transversely to the central longitudinal axis thereof, ice discharge spout means removably mounted on said elongated tubular member in alignment with said ice discharge opening, abutment means provided on said elongated tubular member adjacent said ice discharge opening, corresponding abutment means provided on said ice discharge spout means for abuttingly engaging said abutment means on said elongated tubular member, seal means forming a seal between said ice discharge spout means and said elongated tubular member, rigid blade means mounted on said .ice discharge spout means and extending into said elongated tubular member through said ice discharge opening, and fastening means to rigidly secure said ice spout means and said blade means on said elongated tubular member.

11. The invention as defined in claim It) and wherein said ice discharge spout means comprises a housing portion defining a discharge passage, attaching flange means connected to said housing portion and extending transversely therefrom, and said fastening means being mounted on said attaching flange means.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 and wherein said blade means being removably attached to a side wall of said housing portion within said discharge passage.

13. The invention as defined in claim and wherein said ice discharge spout means comprises an integral onepiece member having a housing portion defining an ice discharge passage and an attaching flange portion extending transversely from said housing portion, a curved abutment surface formed in said housing and corresponding to the curvature of said elongated tubular member for abutting engagement therewith, said blade means extending to said discharge opening and having a surface forming an abutment engaged with a side surface of said elongated tubular member adjacent said ice discharge opening, another opposite surface forming part of said ice discharge passage means, a portion of said housing opposite said blade means extending into said ice discharge opening and abuttingly engaging a side surface of said elongated tubular member adjacent said ice discharge opening and having a curved inner surface forming a continuation of the adjacent interiorsurface of said elongated tubular member, collar means mounted on said elongated tubular member, and fastening means connecting said ice discharge spout means to said collar means through said attaching flange.

14. An ice manufacturing machine comprising an ice forming chamber having an axially extending surface on which ice is adapted to be continuously formed, an ice removing auger means mounted in said ice forming chamber to remove ice formed on said surface of said ice forming chamber by axial and rotative displacement toward one end of said auger means, an ice compacting chamber having radially spaced inner and outer annular axially extending surfaces formed at one end of said ice forming chamber beyond said auger means, an ice .discharge opening in the outer annular surface of said ice compacting chamber axially spaced from the end of said auger means, ice discharge passage means for said ice extending through said ice compacting chamber from said auger means to said discharge opening, said ice discharge passage means being formed in part by said outer annular surface and said inner annular surface of said ice compacting chamber, said inner annular surface on said ice compacting means having a first portion extending axially from said auger means substantially parallel to said outer annular surface of said ice compacting chamber and terminating in a portion extending toward the inner annular surface of said ice compacting chamber and terminating on the other side of said discharge opening opposite said auger means, and rigid blade means mounted adjacent said ice discharge opening and extending inwardly and terminating closely adjacent said inner annular surface of said ice compacting chamber.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14- and wherein said blade means being rigidly mounted relative to said ice compacting means and having a portion adapted to direct ice in said ice discharge passage means outwardly through said discharge opening and having portions adapted to compact and break up the ice in said ice discharge passage means as the ice is directed outwardly through said discharge opening.

16. An ice manufacturing machine comprising an ice forming chamber defined by a tubular housing member providing an inner surface on which thin layers of ice are adapted to be continuously formed, auger means rotatably mounted in said ice forming chamber and having a generally cylindrical main body portion and spiral blade rneans extending outwardly therefrom toward and terminating adjacent the inner surface of said tubular housing member, an ice compacting chamber provided at one end of said auger means by an axially extending portion of said tubular housing member, a drive means for rotatably driving said auger means and causing rotative and axial displacement of ice in said ice forming chamber toward said ice compacting chamber, said ice compacting chamber having a wall portion extending axially away from said auger means generally parallel to the axial path of movement of ice being removed from said ice forming chamber, a first portion of said wall portion being substantially aligned with and forming a continuation of the outer periphery of the main body portion of said auger means, a second portion of said wall portion being curved outwardly to form a curvilinear abutment wall terminating closely adjacent the inner surface of said tubular housing member, said first portion of said wall portion tapering outwardly toward said inner surface of said tubular housing member to define an ice compacting chamber gradually reduced in cross sectional width, a discharge opening provided in said tubular housing member in alignment with said ice compacting chamber and said second portion of said wall portion, ice removing blade means mounted adjacent said discharge opening, an inner portion of said blade means extending into said ice compactin chamber, the innermost surfaces of said ice removing blade means terminating in an edge located closely adjacent the wall portion, said edge being contoured to substantially match the curved contour of said second portion and including a relatively straight portion having a taper corresponding to the taper of said wall portion, and one of the innermost intersecting surfaces defining said edge sloping outwardly away from said wall portion across the ice compacting chamber in the general direction of rotational movement of ice in said ice compacting chamber to provide a guide and compacting surface for the ice in the ice compacting chamber and causing deflection of ice outwardly through said discharge openmg.

1.7. The invention as defined in claim 15 and having rib means centrally located on said ice removing blade means and extending generally parallel to the path of movement of ice through said discharge opening and dividing said ice removing blade means into upper and lower segments whereby the size of ice particles delivered through said discharge opening may be controlled and the ice being discharged will tend to be divided into a plurality of fragments subjected to both radial and axial movement and compression in said ice compacting chamber and to compression on said ice removing blade means as the ice is delivered from said ice compacting chamber.

18. An ice discharge device for attachment to ice forming means comprising a housing, flange means on said housing for attaching said ice discharge device to the ice forming means, blade means in said housing and extending outwardly beyond said flange means for location within the ice forming means, said blade means comprising a generally L-snaped member having one leg portion extending outwardly from said housing and terminating in a knife-like edge, the other leg portion extending within said housing and defining an abutment wall, and rib means extending transversely outwardly from the leg portions and dividing said blade means into a plurality of ice engaging surfaces to 'form separate ice particles.

19. A machine for making chipped or fiake ice comprising a tubular member having successive ice forming and ice compacting wall portions; means for refrigerating at least the ice forming wall portion; ice advancing means rotatably mounted in said tubular member about a longitudinally extending axis of rotation and having means which remove ice from the ice forming wall portion and advances it toward the ice compacting wall portion; surface means beyond said ice advancing means in the direction of advance of said ice and cooperating with the ice compacting wall portion to define an annular axially extending ice compacting chamber into which ice advanced by said ice advancing means is compacted and caused to rotate about the axis of rotation of said advancing means; References Cited by the Examiner an ice discharge opening in the ice compacting wall por- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion; said annular axially extending ice compacting chamber extending axially a substantial distance from said ice 2,803,950 8/1957 Bays/[on 62354 X advancing means to said ice discharge opening; and ice 5 2,860,490 11/1958 Taylor X removing blade means fixed adjacent said ice discharge 2,902,839 9/1959 Marlshan 62" 354 opening and having a portion extending into said ice 2,943,461 7/1960 Davls 62-3 54 compacting chamber toward said surface means, said 2,952,141 9/1960 Nelson et a1 62 354 blade means being engaged by ice moving in said ice 2,962,878 12/1960 Keller 62-320 compacting chamber and acting to break up and discharge 10 3,002,361 10/1961 Whetstone 62354 the ice through said ice discharge opening in the form of 3,034,311 5/ 1962 NelSOI} 62354 X flakes of hips 0f ice. Schneider et a1. X

20. The invention as defined in claim 19 and in which 3,101,598 8/1963 Ross 62-354 said surface means is carried by and rotates with said ice 3,163,020 12/1964 Ross 62354 X advancing means. 15

21. The invention as defined in claim 19 and in which FOREIGN TE said ice compacting wall portion and said surface means 409,499 5/1934 Great Bntamare relatively inclined so as to progressively reduce the cross-sectional area of said ice compacting chamber in ROBERT OLEARY P'lmary Examiner the direction of advance of the ice. 20 W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ICE MAKING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ICE FORMING CHAMBER, ROTATABLE AUGER MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID ICE FORMING CHAMBER TO DELIVER ICE FORMED THEREIN TOWARD ONE END THEREOF, A DISCHARGE OPENING ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF ICE FORMING CHAMBER PROVIDING A DISCHARGE PATH FOR ICE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID AUGER MEANS, AN ICE COMPACTING CHAMBER LOCATED ADJACENT SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, AN END WALL MEMBER AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAID AUGER MEANS, THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID ICE COMPACTING CHAMBER BEING FORMED BY SAID END WALL MEMBER AND BEING OUTWARDLY CURVED 